We know…we all just concluded a very festive, calorie rich marathon, heavier in carbs than veggies; but there’s something about the first 2 weeks of January that just incites us to eat out and enjoy a little bit more. Maybe it’s to beat the funk of “Blue Monday” (the “most depressing day of the year”) ahead…maybe we’re too lazy to cook? Whatever it is, we give you 6 valid reasons to take yourself and your loved ones out for a meal to remember in this beginning of the year.

LOREN

Now for someone whose grand-mother came from Tuscany…Italian food is a sensitive topic. While most of the restaurants offering pizza and pasta in the city sadly don’t really make it past a 7,5/10 (with some exceptions, sicuramente), Loren actually manages to raise the bar.
To start off, the venue; part of West Palm Beach’s The Club, the restaurant is simply gorgeous, with a massive open-kitchen, a very large terrace over looking the water, grand interiors inspired by the 1960s and 70s Italian Riviera… nothing was left aside.
Serivce is top notch but for what matters most, the food, well it’s pretty spectacular too. We signed up for the white truffle menu, coming in with high expectations, and nothing from the pizza, to the scallops all the way to the liguini, disappointed. We just wished calories weren’t a thing and that the parmesan wheel was bottomless. As per the truffle shaved on the dishes, it’s no less than a very rare white Alba truffle, with a size that breaks all previous Dubai records at 536g, worth a whopping AED13,000.
And since we just started off naughty, we decided to continue and compliment all this glorious food with a Negroni Sbagliato – you know, just a Negroni with a zest of prosecco.
Now, we certainly could have stopped there, but since dessert was comprising of nutella gelato, not taking a spoon would have basically been a crime.
Loren, we’ll be back.

RISTORANTE LOREN
The Club, West Palm
+971 4 557 8293

THE LIGHT HOUSE

The Lighthouse, which started off with a location in Dubai Design District almost 7 years ago, and that has since spread over the city, is the type of restaurant that would actually make you take the trip to D3 regardless of if you work there or not. While we used to run there for their avocado toasts (call us basic, but that one just slaps) , the Niçoise salad with seared tuna (also a classic but seems like TLH knows a thing or two about executing the basics right; and elevating them) or their heavenly feta puffed pastry, this time it’s for their newly launched aperitivo that we made our way to the city’s creative hub.
Started off with a glass of bubbly, we quickly were served an assortment of 4 bites of our choice including padron peppers, halloumi fries, arancini and  lightly fried calamari. Here again, food is a sans fautes, staff is the nicest and always making sure you’re having a good time. Meanwhile the sunset views as the last rays disappear behind Burj Khalifa just add to the magic of this much needed afterwork… we get carried away and order the cocktail signature, a Paloma, which here benefits from a home-made grapefruit cordial that makes all the difference.
For 125 dhs pp, this 2 drinks – 4 bites formula is the perfect offering to end a rough Monday, reset on a Wednesday or ring in the weekend comes Friday evening.

THE LIGHT HOUSE
Dubai Design District
+971 4 422 6024

BAR DU PORT

One of Beirut’s favourite hangout, Bar Du Port has landed in Dubai, neslted in Dubai Harbor Pier Club and is just as buzzing as its Lebanese counterpart.
You can tell people come here for a good-time – here there’s dancing, mingling, the right spot to grab a margarita between two bites of a well-seasoned ceviche.
The views are perfect, right on the water, and the beats that Sunday night -which is the day of their Retro Chic weekly event – are all we needed to hear- as to know, a mix of 80s, 90s and 00s finest
We’d say the place is actually perfect for a girls’ night out or to party with your friends when you feel like popping a bottle by the DJ both, enjoying a prosecco by the bar or snacking on a few maki rolls,

BAR DU PORT
Dubai Harbor Pier Club
+971 4 332 4868

SAL’S BISTRO

If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, away from Dubai’s busyness, Sal’s Bistro, a gorgeous, cozy restaurant overlooking Jumeirah Lake might be just what you need.
A project by the owner of Le Fumoir, Sal’s Bistro proposes all day dining, from lunch to dinner with special offerings some days of the week – think mussels & fries or unlimited sushis.
Here, salmon is king and declined in many ways; Some of the must tries include the grilled salmon, which is potentially one of the best (the best?) we ever had – smoked at 20% before cooking, it’s bursting with flavors while remaining oh-so-tender. The crunchy spicy salmon served in lettuce cups are perfect for a punchy appetizer.
On our list to be had next time, a salmon pastrami and hashbrowns for breakfast.
The team is sweet, the ambiance is friendly, it’s the ideal spot for a day out with the family or a cute date night by the water.

SAL’S BISTRO
Jumeirah Islands
+971 50 788 0222

PENELOPE’S

Delicious food and magical ambiance; That could be the tagline for Penelope’s, an incredible french cuisine-inspired restaurant and jazz bar, ideally located in Yas Marina.
We loved everything from A to Z, but particularly the – although simple – Salade Du Jardin (that vinaigrette was just something out of this world, somehow) and the lobster pasta, generously garnished with lobster (we all know that’s not always the case.)
While service was so kind and available, what really made the night was the live music performance; it’s always such a plus.

PENELOPE’S
Yas Marina
+971 50 204 2475

SUSHIYAKI

Sushiyaki, a new venue by FoodFund International, just opened its doors in Madinat Jumeirah and is bound to take the Dubai’s Japanese culinary scene to new heights.
Here it isn’t just about the food, it’s a complete experience that includes an immersion into tradition and the tech world with AI illustrations and cutting edge technology that will enchant diners.
Renowned for their delicious sushi and irresistible yakitori (hence the name,) the restaurant is set to become the go-to for many Japanese cuisine lovers.

SUSHIYAKI
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
+971 4 451 9170

Discover more restaurants to try, right here.

Cover picture: The Light House Aperitivo